The Syracuse University chapter of Theta Tau has posted a statement to its website apologizing for a video obtained and published by The Daily Orange on Wednesday night that showed students using racial slurs, including anti-Semitic language.

“Anyone of color or of any marginalized group who has seen this video has every right to be angry and upset with the despicable contents of that video,” said the statement, which was signed “Tau of Theta Tau.” It was not immediately clear if the statement was posted online Thursday night or early Friday morning. SU suspended Theta Tau on Wednesday morning after university officials obtained videos of the fraternity Chancellor Kent Syverud called “extremely racist.”

In recordings obtained by The Daily Orange showing the videos, which were filmed in Theta Tau’s house, a person forces another person to his knees and asks him to repeat an “oath” including racial slurs.

“I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for n*ggers, sp*cs and most importantly the f*ckin’ k*kes,” the person on his knees repeats.

The videos were posted in a secret Facebook group called “Tau of Theta Tau” by a user named David Yankowy III, the recordings show.

 

In the statement posted to its website, Theta Tau said each semester its new members are given an opportunity to write and act out a skit, to “roast” the fraternity’s active members.

“This event was never intended to be centered around racism or hate. This year, one of these brothers is a conservative Republican, and the new members roasted him by playing the part of a racist conservative character,” the statement said.

Theta Tau said the video depicted a “satirical sketch” of an “uneducated, racist, homophobic, misogynist, sexist, ableist and intolerant person.”

“We would like to believe that the new members seen in the video laughing at the horrible things being said were not laughing in concurrence with these beliefs, but in fact the opposite — that racism, sexism and homophobia are so wrong that they are laughable,” the statement said. “None of the satire was said or done in malice.”

Several videos filmed in the house were uploaded in the secret Facebook group. In one recording, a person, using anti-Semitic language, yells at two other people.

“You f*ckin’ k*kes, get in the f*ckin’ showers,” he says, and the two people run out of the room as others laugh.

In another recording, a person sits down in a rolling chair and a different person yells, “He’s drooling out of his mouth because he’s retarded in a wheelchair.”

At one point, one person tells others to “… Get together and (talk) about their significant others while drinking different wines and talking in gay girly accents.”

“I am appalled and shaken by this and deeply concerned for all members of our community,” Chancellor Kent Syverud said in a campus-wide email on Wednesday.

The chancellor said that, upon confirming Theta Tau’s involvement in the videos, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities immediately suspended the fraternity.

SU’s Department of Public Safety has launched an investigation into the incident to identify individuals and to take additional legal and disciplinary action, Syverud said.

This is a developing story. Expect additional updates and reporting.

The statement, which was available as of 1:09 a.m., can be viewed here. 

Published on April 20, 2018 at 1:01 am

Contact Sam: sfogozal@syr.edu | @SamOgozalek